Armed with passion and love for rugby, Faith Tjambari (21) would watch boys play the sport while waiting for her parents to pick her up after school.
Tjambari, now UNAM forward player of the University of Namibia team in the national women’s league, says she fell in love with rugby while waiting for her dad after school and eventually joined the boys during their training sessions.
“My dad would fetch me late from school, so I would just stand there and watch them train. One day I decided to join them. I was just curious. Then I trained with them and I fell in love with the game,” Tjambari says.
The rugby captain is a third-year communications student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).
“I’m strong, fast and flexible,” she says.
Tjambari had to wait until she turned 18 to officially play rugby.
“For a whole year in 2023, I trained with my team but was not allowed to play matches because of age restrictions. I still showed up to every training session. I watched every game. Even though I couldn’t play, I didn’t stop coming,” she explains.
When she finally became eligible, she made it count and at the Trustco United 10-a-side tournament, where she scored her first try.
“That moment made me feel like it was all worth it,” she says. “The cheers from my older teammates will forever stay in my heart.”
She says balancing rugby and university is not easy as there are not enough hours in a day.
Between lectures, assignments, training sessions and matches, time management has become one of her strongest skills.
She keeps a detailed schedule and communicates openly with her lecturers and coaches.
“You have to prioritise. You have to plan. And you have to speak up so people understand your commitments. Rugby has helped me academically too. The routine of training clears my mind. The teamwork I learnt on the field helps her work better with classmates,” she says.
She says the sport has taught her discipline and resilience and helps her stay focused in her studies.
“Some days are long and draining,” she admits. “That’s why I take what I call ‘mental health days’. I do something I’ve never done before, just to reset and refocus.
In 2024, Tjambari experienced her first major injury, tearing the soft tissue in her left ankle and dislocating it. She was out for roughly three months and missed half of the league season.
“It was really hard. I couldn’t do sports or even go to the gym. That’s usually what keeps me motivated,” she says.
During that time, she struggled emotionally but instead of giving up, she looked for other ways to grow.
She started painting, building puzzles and improving her marketing skills. She taught herself how to braid her hair.
“It taught me resilience and adaptability. I learned that growth doesn’t only happen on the field,” she notes.
Coming back to rugby was not just about healing physically, she had to rebuild her confidence and trust her body again.
“Overcoming setbacks is not only about physical recovery. It’s about mental strength and courage,” she says.
Her parents are some of her motivators, and she calls them her “rock”.
Her grandmother has also supported her by helping with extra classes and providing rugby gear.
“They encourage me, especially on days when I feel low. They make me feel like a superstar,” she says.
Looking ahead, Tjambari hopes to one day represent Namibia at international level and help grow women’s rugby in the country. She wants more young girls to join the sport.
“I want girls to see that they belong here too,” she says.
At the same time, she is serious about her education and plans to complete her communications degree, pursue an honours degree in journalism and media, and possibly do a master’s in public relations.
She dreams of becoming a news anchor or working in radio.
For young people who want to study and play sport, her advice is simple.
“Do it. Stay organised. Manage your time. Communicate. Rest. Take care of yourself physically and mentally. And stay passionate,” she says.
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